Hampton civil rights group asking questions about death of man in police custody

As Hampton police investigate last week's death of a man who was in their custody, a local civil rights group is asking their own questions about what happened.

"The Coalition for Justice (for Civil Rights) intends to go full steam ahead and try to bring some closure to this terrible, terrible killing," Coalition President Rudy Langford said at a Monday news conference at the home in the 300 block of Grant Circle where Marlon Jermaine Dixon, 41, of Hampton, was taken into police custody June 18.

Dixon stopped breathing while in police custody after officers responded to a 9 a.m. call about a suspicious person, said police spokesman Sgt. Jason Price of the Hampton Police Division. At the scene, officers encountered a man who became "disorderly and combative," Price said.

Police determined Dixon was suffering from a medical condition based on his behavior and tried to place him in emergency custody, Price said. The man resisted the officers' attempts to place him in handcuffs, but they were eventually able to restrain him. Afterward, they saw the man had stopped breathing, Price said.

The officers immediately began CPR and called paramedics, Price said. The man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Price said.

While police are looking into the matter, the Coalition for Justice for Civil Rights has conducted its own review of the case at the request of Dixon's family, Langford said. While Langford said their probe is in progress, he said so far they've found that Dixon suffered from a heart condition and believe it was exacerbated in the confrontation with police.

Dixon was on the porch of a friend's home seeking medical help, and a neighbor called police in response to his yelling, according to Langford, who has spoken to witnesses of the incident. Officers questioned Dixon for about 30 minutes and later restrained him, Langford said.

The cause of death is unknown and is pending the result of an autopsy, Price said. Those results usually take several months to come back from the medical examiner's office, said Price.

The division is conducting a criminal and administrative investigation into the incident, which is standard practice, Price said. The officers involved will be placed on administrative leave with pay, which is division policy.

"The investigation is ongoing. It has not been completed," Price said, encouraging witnesses to come forward with information. "(That would) allow us the opportunity to get all the facts and details," he said.

Family members at the news conference did not wish to speak to reporters.

The coalition plans to host several events this week in response to Dixon's death, starting with a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting at 1645 W. Pembroke Ave.

The group will also host a vigil at Hampton Police Division headquarters at 40 Lincoln Street at 6:30 p.m. Friday, as well as a march from Grace Circle to Hampton City Hall on Monday.